Thursday night’s Keith Urban tribute show in the Ramona Bowl’s summer concert season was more than a pleasant evening of music performed by “Urban Skies” in the storied amphitheater by Hemet.

More importantly, the concluding concert of the summer series also was a celebratory night for bowl volunteer leaders who persevered over struggles financing concerts in the bowl.

“I’m really happy,” said bowl board member and Hemet hair stylist Al Cordova, who worked to keep music alive in the amphitheater for more than 30 years. “We actually came out ahead this year on our concerts.”

Though modest in scope, turning a small profit for the summer season was significant not just for music fans in the San Jacinto Valley. It had importance for people throughout the region.

With seating of little more than 5,000, the gorgeous and historic amphitheater has the potential to be a popular venue for people living throughout the Inland area. For now, the bowl features the spring run of the famous historic play “Ramona,” plus community concerts, graduations, Easter services and live theater productions the remainder of the year.

Efforts to keep the music alive and the bowl properly maintained today will keep the amphitheater ready for the potential of someday presenting the sort of major acts featured at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Board members of the nonprofit Ramona Bowl organization finally hit the right formula this summer – interesting but affordable acts, bargain tickets, lots of volunteers and, of course, the bowl and its stunning setting in the hills above Hemet.

Tickets for the summer series were just $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 12, with youngsters 5 and younger admitted free. More than 1,000 people paid to see “Paperback Writer,” a Beatles tribute band, to start off the series. Many returned for other shows.

Cordova witnessed a variety of efforts to stage concerts. In its heyday during the 1980s, the formerly active Ramona Bowl Music Association attracted lots of Hemet retirees who were asked to donate to the free shows when baskets were passed through the audience. Cordova said contributions averaged less than 50 cents per person.

Nederlander, the big national concert organization, brought in major acts like David Crosby and Graham Nash for a couple of summers in the 1990s, but unfortunately pulled out.

The music association tried concerts over the years, but suffered financially and faded away.

Over the past few years, the Ramona Bowl board embarked on its own strategy of low admission charges for decent bands. The plan worked.

“The dream is still to get major acts,” Cordova said.

Cordova said the plan is to build audiences while gradually upgrading the quality of acts every year.

Thursday’s Keith Urban tribute show had 592 ticket buyers, according to Cordova, plus a couple of hundred more people who received complimentary tickets through sponsorship of the four-show summer series.

It was fun seeing people I know, young and old, watch the concert. It was more fun talking to them during intermission.

Most of the people I spoke with said they attended several shows this summer and loved the Thursday-evening series.

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